Electrothermostatic-controlled mechanism



E. V. HARTFORD. ELECTROTHERMOSTATIC CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY21. 1915.

1 349,954. Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

FIGJ

' 57 Zn fl INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY E. V. HARTFORD.

ELECTROTHERMOSTATIC CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZI. 1915.

1,349,954, Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1 111 (/5 f VINVENTOR.

AT TORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD VASSALLO HARTFORD, OF DEAL, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTBOTHEBMOSTATIC-CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

Application filed May 27,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD VASSALLO HARTFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Deal, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrothermostatic-Controlled Mechanism, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying sheets of draw- [his invention relates to the art of regulating temperatures and more particularly to the regulation of the temperature of a heating)system.

ne of the objects of the {present invention is to provide means for e ecting a positive, yet gradual, operation of a steamvalve without jamming the valve to its seat when the invention is used in connection with a steam heating system.

A further object of the invention is to provide new and improved electro-thermostatic controlled means for regulating the opera tion of the steam valve, which means operates to prevent the fluttering of the thermostat under slight variations in temperature in order to effect the positive and full opening or closing of the valve.

Other objects of the invention will manifest themselves upon a reading and understanding of the following specifications and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view, partly diagram matic, illustrating one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a like view, partly in section, of another and preferable embodiment thereof. and

Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of a valve-clutching mechanism.

The steam heating pipe is indicated at 1, and the valve controlling the How of the medium therethrough is conveniently indicated at 2. The latter is of the usual wellknown construction and need not be described in detail further than to say that 3 indicates the valve stem and 4 the handwheel by means of which the valve is moved toward and away from its seat. The spokes of the valve-wheel 4 are engaged by the pins 5 which are mounted upon a disk 6, which, in turn, is mounted fast upon the end of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

1915. Serial No. 30,840.

countershaft 7. Upon this shaft and fixed thereto is a gear-wheel 8 shown in dotted outline, said gear-wheel being in mesh with a worm 9, also shown in dotted outline, which is mounted upon the armature 10 of the electro-motor 11. Upon the end of the motor armature is a frictionally-held flywheel 12, the details of construction of which are clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. This flywheel is mounted so as to rotate with the armature 10 under certain conditions of operation which will be hereafter more particularly explained. The fly-wheel 12 is provided with a clutch face which engages with a cooperating clutch face provided on a clutch member 13, which is keyed to, and made fast, to the end of the armature shaft 10. To hold the clutch member and the flywheel in frictional engagement with each other, I provide a spider-shaped spring member 14, having a plurality of radiallydisposed feet bearing against the web of the fly-wheel. In order to regulate or vary the tension of the spring 14, and consequently the frictional adherence of the clutch memhers, I provide a nut 15 threaded upon the threaded end of the motor armature 10. The counter-shaft 7 is provided with a screwthreaded end 16 upon which screw-threaded end is mounted a screw-threaded member 17 carried by a part 18, which may be suitably guided so that, upon the rotation of the countershaft 7, the member 17 will be caused to reciprocate longitudinally back and forth upon the said counter-shaft and during said reciprocation, control the operation of the motor 11, by reason of its cooperative engagement with the pairs of spring contacts 19 and 20.

The energization of the motor 11 and its direction of rotation is controlled by the thermostat 21, by means of its cooperation with the electro-magnetic contacts 22 and 23. It will be understood that a rise in temperature will cause the thermostat 21 to bend or flex into contact with the contact 22, which will close a circuit through the battery 24, which energizes the relay 26, the latter operating the two-pole reversing switch shown in dotted outline by closin the contacts 27 and 27". This relay establishes a motor energizing circuit by bringing in the battery, or source of current supply 28. The thermostat circuit is completed throughthe magnets 26, lead or wire 29, spring members 30 and 31, lead or wire 32, electro-magnet 33, electro-magnetic pole-piece or contact 22, thermostat 21 and wire 25. The magnetic pull exerted by the magnetized pole-piece 22, effects a positive and continued connection between the said pole-piece and the thermostat 21, which is unaffected by a drop in the surrounding temperature, but requires a positive mechanical breaking of the circuit to release the thermostat, as will be presently described. The motor energizing circuit may be conveniently described as comprisin the battery 28, lead or wire 34, contacts 2 lead or wire 35, wire 36, motor armature, lead or wire 37, lead or wire 38, contacts 27, lead or wire 39, motor field, lead or wire 40, to opposite pole of battery 28. It will be understood that the energizing of the motor causes the counter-shaft 7 to rotate and by reason of its connection with the valve, the valve is correspondingl I moved. Assuming that the valve is being 0 osed and the counter-shaft 7 is being rotated clockwise, the member 17 will be moved in a direction toward the motor armature. In this movement, the member 17 will engage the spring member 30 and break the connection between the contacts 20. This will open the thermostatic circuit, releasing the thermostat 21 from the contact 22, deenergizing the magnets 26, which will release the motor controlling contacts 27 and 27. This deenergizes the motor and stops the closing operation of the valve. Now, should the temperature falland cause the thermostat 21 to move into contact with the electro-magnetic contact 23, a circuit of different polarity will be established through the battery 24, thus causing the motor 11 to rotate in a direction opposite to that just described, imparting a reverse or opening movement to the valve 2. The reverse circuit is from the battery 24 through the thermostat 21, contact 23, electro-magnet 41, wire 42, spring member 43, contacts 19, spring member 44, wire 45, electro-magnets 46, (the energization of which will operate to effect contact between the contacts 47 and 47), wire 48 and wire 25 to the opposite pole of the battery 24. The establishment of the connection between the contacts 47 and 47 will cause the current to flow from the negative side of the battery 28 through lead or wire 40, through field of motor, wire 39, through contacts 47, through lead or Wire 36, through motor armature, through lead or wire 37, through contacts 47 and lead or wire 34 to the positive side of the battery 28, thus causing the motor and counter-shaft to operate in a reverse or anti-clockwise direction. This motion causes the member 17 to travel away from the motor armature until it engages and deflects the spring member 43 causing a break between the contacts 19 which deenergizes the motor and releases the thermostat from the electro-magnetic contact 23.

By the arrangement thus describedit will be apparent that the motor is enabled to operate during a sufiicient interval of time to cause a positive and full opening or shutting of the valve 2, the thermostat 21 being electro-magnetically held in circuit-closing position to accomplish this result. In this way the thermostat is prevented from flutterlng or wavering under slight temperature changes, as would be the result if the electromagnetic contacts were not provided.

To revent the jamming of the valve to its seat, provide a frictionally-held fly-wheel upon the motor armature. This fly-wheel during the rotation of the armature stores up kinetic energy which assists in closing the valve after the motor has been denergized and in such a way as to avoid the transmission of sufficient power to cause a jamming of the valve. Assuming that the valve is being closed, and that the member 17 has engaged the member 30 and broken the connection between contacts 20, the

motor is deenergized in the manner heretofore described and the seating of the valve is completed under the momentum of the fly-wheel 12. The fly-wheel being held frictionally to the motor armature, and this frictional connection being properly regulated, it is apparent that only suflicient energy will be transmitted to the valve to cause it to seat in a gradual and non-abrupt manner, the surplus energy of the fly-wheel being dissipated through said friction connection.

The modified construction shown in Fig. 2 embodies a simplified form of controlling switch comprising a pair of spring contact members 49 and 50 and an interposed spring contact 51, which is operated by a fork-shaped member 52 in screwthreaded engagement with the screw-threaded counter-shaft 7. The member 52 is mounted to move longitudinally along the counter-shaft 7 in simllar manner to that of member,17 described in connection with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1. The switch thus described is controlled by the thermostat 21 and the two combined control the energization of the motor as well as the direction of rotation thereof. A single source of battery energy 24 is used in this modified form of apparatus. The thermostat 21 is shown in contact with the electro-magnetic contact 23 and the contact 51 is shownv connected with contact 50, being separated from contact 49. In this position the valve (not shown in this figure) which is operated by the countershaft 7, is closed and the circuit may be traced from the positive side of the battery 24, through wire 25, thermostat 21, contact 23, electro-magnet 41, wire 53, motor field, wire 54, contact 50, contact 51, wire 55, motor armature and wire 56 to the negative side of the battery 24. The motor is thus energized and the counter-shaft 7 is caused to rotate anti-clockwise causing the member 52 to move toward the end of the counter-shaft 7 and during this movement, the spring contacts 50 and 51 follow each other until contact 51 is brought into connection with spring contact 49.. The member 52 continues in this movement until the opposite arm engages contact 51, deflecting it and causing it to break connection with contact 50. Immediately upon the breaking of this connection, the thermostat 21 is released from the magnetic contact 23 and the motor is deenergized, which stops the opening operation of the valve.

Should the surrounding temperature rise and cause the thermostat 21 to move to the left and contact with electro-magnetic contact 22, then a circuit is closed through battery 24 of'difierent polarity, causing the motor to operate in the reverse direction and causing the valve to close. This circuit may be described as follows: from the battery 24 through lead or wire 56, armature of motor, wire 55, contact 51, contact 49, wire 57, field of motor, wire 58, electro-magnet 33, contact 22, thermostat 21, wire 25 to the positive side of the battery 24. This circuit is established and continues until the opposite arm of the member 52 contacts with and deflects the contact 51, breaking connection between it and contact 49, as shown in Fig. 2. The interruption of this circuit releases the thermostat 21 and the motor energizing circuit is also interrupted. Whichever way the valve is being operated, whether into closed position or open position, the final movement thereof may and preferably is caused by the momentum of the fly-wheel after the motor has been deenergized.

If the valve should, for any reason, ecome slightly jammed or held tightl to its seat, I may provide a lost motion mec anism which will permit the motor to get under way before it starts to operate the valve, thus causing a sufficient power to be abruptly exerted against the valve to unseat it and start it in its opening movement. This mechanism may be described as consisting of the fork-shaped or yoke-like member 59 carried by the end of the counter-shaft 7 which cooperate with projecting lugs or fingers 60, extending from a disk 70, carried by the valve rod 3. The yoke or fork member 59 rotates freely between, and until. it engages, the fingers or projecting lugs 60, whereupon it starts to move the valve.

In the embodiment thus described, the gearing mechanism is slightly different in general arrangement from that described in connection with the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. An additional counter-shaft 7 is em loyed upon which is mounted a gear 7 an a worm 7, the latter meshin with the gear 8 of the counter-shaft 7. y this arrangement the high speed of the motor can be greatly reduced so as to effect a slow rotation of the counter-shaft 7.

While I have chosen to illustrate and describe my invention in connection with the valve mechanism of a steam heating system, I do so by way of example only as exemplifying one useful application of the novel principle involved, whichprinciple may be embodied to equal advantage in a ct air heating system. When so embodied the operation of the furnace damper will be controlled by the thermostat and motor in any suitable manner. Therefore, the principle of my invention finds broad application, and it is my desire to cover said principle broadly. Furthermore, I do not wish to be limited in the matter of details of structure or precise manner in which the principle is involved in electro-magnetic elements, as the same may be readily changed or altered without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new herein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination with a reciprocatory valve, an electric motor cotiperatively associated therewith, an energizing circuit for said motor, a thermostat in said circuit adapted to control the operation of the m0- tor and adapted to control its direction of rotation, an electromagnetic contact in said energizing circuit and cooperating with said thermostat to maintain positive connection therewith, switching instrumentalities in said circuit, means operated by the motor and cooperating with the switching instrumentalities to control the extent of motor rotation and to release the thermostat from the electromagnetic contact, and means for storing kinetic energy whereby the motor may operate for a brief period after the circuit has been opened.

2. In combination with a reciprocatory valve, an electric motor having an armature shaft cooperatively associated therewith, an energizing circuit for said motor, a thermostat in said circuit adapted to control the operation of the motor and adapted to control its direction of rotation, an electromagnetic contact in said energizing circuit an cooperating with said thermostat to maintain positive connection therewith, switching instrumentalities in said circuit, means operated by the motor and cooperating with the switching instrumentalities to control the extent of motor rotation and to release the thermostat from the electromagnetic contact, and means upon the armature shaft for storing kinetic energy whereb the'motor ma rotate for a brief perio after its circuit as been opened.

3. In combination with a reciprocatory valve, an electric motor having an armature shaft cooperatively associated therewith, an energizing circuit for said motor, a thermostat in said circuit adapted to control the operation of the motor and adapted to control its direction of rotation, an electromagnetic contact in said energizing circuit and cooperating with said thermostat to maintain positive connection therewith, switching instrumentalities in said circuit, means operated by the motor and cooperating with the switching instrumentahties to control the extent, of motor rotation and to release the thermostat from the electromagnet contact, and means having a yielding frictional connection with the armature shaft for storing kinetic energy whereby the motor may rotate for a brief period after its circuit has been opened.

4. In combination with a reciprocatory valve, an electric motor cooperatively associated therewith and connected thereto by a lost motion drivin connection and adapted to o erate said va ve, a fly wheel mounted on t e armature shaft of said motor, frictional means embodied in said fly wheel to couple said wheel to said armature shaft, a motor energizing circuit, and means operated by the motor for interrnptin said energizin of the va ve may be effected by the momentum of the fly wheel.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD YASBALLO HARTFORD.

circuit whereby a final cosing 

